Sandra Oh Earns Honorary Doctorate at Dartmouth
Emmy-winning star swaps stethoscope for tassel in a dance with Dartmouth’s class of ’25!
Image: Instagram
From Screen To Stage: Sandra Oh’s Journey
Sandra Oh, best known for her award-winning turns on Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve, traded her acting scripts for a cap and gown at Dartmouth College’s recent commencement ceremony. The Canadian-American actress, whose trailblazing career has earned Emmys, Golden Globe nominations and widespread acclaim, was honored with an honorary doctorate and entrusted with delivering the Class of 2025’s Commencement Speech.
Honorary Degree And Commencement Speech
In a post shared on Instagram, Oh celebrated the distinction with her trademark humor. “A Dr. for real reals!! (Okay, honorary),” she wrote, tagging @DartmouthCollege and thanking the institution for the chance to speak. The Dartmouth website confirms the actress was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters, recognizing her contributions to performing arts and advocacy for representation in Hollywood.
During her address, Oh wove personal anecdotes and career milestones into an uplifting message for graduates preparing to write their own next chapters. She reflected on resilience, community and the power of storytelling—urging the new alumni to lean on one another and to embrace change as both artists and global citizens.
Dancing With The Class Of ’25
One of the ceremony’s most joyful moments arrived when Oh stepped off the podium and joined the graduates on the field. Photographs by Katie Lenhart show her moving through rows of caps and gowns, beaming as she danced alongside Dartmouth’s class of ’25. The images capture a spontaneous, giddy energy—graduates cheering, tossing their tassels, and snapping selfies with the star.
“Oh my heart,” one student shouted as Oh spun in the spring sunshine. Many graduates later praised the moment on social media, noting it set a celebratory tone for the rest of the day’s festivities.
Fellow Honorands And Gratitude
In her caption, Oh extended congratulations to her fellow honorands, including Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin, Game of Thrones creator David Benioff, equestrian legend Judy Geer, attorney Lynn Trujillo, former U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novello and the Rev. William Greason. She also thanked her “speech sherpa,” Evan Endicott, for guidance and friendship, and Shonda Rhimes for “creative sisterhood.”
“Thank you Evan Endicott my speech sherpa for your guidance and friendship,” Oh wrote, before adding a shout-out to longtime pal Shonda Rhimes. The Grey’s Anatomy creator has been a collaborator and confidante for over a decade, underscoring Oh’s deep roots in television and storytelling.
Outside the ceremony, students and faculty lined the campus green, waving banners and cheering as each honorary degree recipient was announced. Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock presided over the awards, citing Oh’s trailblazing roles and her advocacy for AAPI representation in entertainment.
Sandra Oh’s appearance at Dartmouth marks another milestone in her storied career—from her early days in Canadian television to becoming the first actress of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV drama. On campus, she left behind more than her signature laughter; she offered graduates a vivid example of using a public platform for positive change.
As statements go viral and diplomas get framed, Dartmouth’s Class of ’25 will likely remember not only their degrees but dancing with a star who swapped a stethoscope for a tassel—and who encouraged them to keep moving, even when the next step isn’t clear.
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